By the time I came back with a clean towel for Cleo, she was asleep. She was sprawled out on my bed, covering every possible inch she could it seemed. Her head was lolled to the side, mouth slightly open as she breathed, her cheeks rosy from the alcohol she had been drinking all night. I snorted to myself. She looked like a little kid when she slept.I threw the towel on my dresser and turned off the lights. I pulled off my shirt and pants but left my boxer briefs on.I struggled a bit getting Cleo to one side of the bed, especially since I was trying not to wake her up.But when I finally did get her covered up and was comfortable beside her, I felt really happy. We had slept together before, but it felt different this time. Honestly, I had kind of half suspected she would leave last time. But not tonight. Well yeah, she didn't drive here. Just let me be happy.I just wanted to be happy with Cleo, forever.I just wanted her to always be by my side."Ike..." I stirred. Who was saying
I end up borrowing some leggings from one of my guards, Angie. She was about the same height and build as Cleo. Though the leggings were a powder blue color. I noticed Cleo typically stuck to dark and bland colors, so I was a little worried she would be annoyed by what I brought her. I also got a sports bra from her. I don't think bras are like underwear where you shouldn't share, right? I just knew that Cleo wore these in the past and the one she was in now had left red marks on her shoulders from where it was digging in. Even something as small as that, made me jump into gear in finding a solution for her, to make her that much happier. Why did I care so much? I don't know. I guess it didn't really bother me, I just wan't used to wanting to dote on a woman like this before. I'm not saying I had ever been rude or even cold towards my bedmates in the past, but I always made it very clear I wasn't their partner, I wasn't interested in being their butt-buddy, and I wasn't going to be th
I never want to leave this place.That's all I can think as Ike and I walk around his pack, him talking happily about what was what and who was who. I met so many people, and I tried hard to remember at least a few of their names. I wasn't good with that kind of thing, so it would take me a while. But I would get it.I didn't want to leave.But I knew I would have to.I had gotten an email this morning asking me to come in for an interview. It was for a personal assistant position with some small family business. I didn't know who I was interviewing to work for, but the pay looked good, and it wasn't too far from my house. I was willing to take the risk.It was time to return to my real life. I couldn't hide in Ike's pack forever. This is your pack too, Cleo. You can't just leave now. That made my heart stop. Ike squeezed my hand forcing me to look up at him. I smile a little at him and wink before refocusing on watching his guards train. He wanted me to see his best fighters, and I t
I stepped outside my apartment door, my eyes scanning the area in front of me.It wasn't even six o'clock in the morning yet, so it was still dark and quiet outside. The world wasn't ready to be awake yet.I turned and locked my front door behind me, inhaling the wet morning air. It had just turned October, and already I can feel winter creeping in. I loved it.I secured my key into the front of my sports bra and began walking to the sidewalk that lined the streets in front of my apartment complex. It was one of four at the end of the neighborhood street I lived on. All four were at the end of the road, two on one side of the street, two on the other. All built with dark brown brick with green accents on the trim and window shutters. There were five units in each building, but as far as I could tell more were empty than occupied. Once I had reached the edge of the road, I took a deep breath and began jogging, leaving my home behind. I could feel my bones popping, my muscles coming al
After my episode at work I came to a conclusion.I needed to change tonight. I could keep pretending everything was fine as much as I wanted, but the other part of me was fighting for control inside my body and mind. It was getting harder and harder to tell it no.Today was a really close call. I didn't like feeling so out of control.I would rather change of my own free will, in a safe environment that I pick on my own. Plus, I think I might be acting so extra spazzy lately because it's been so long since I last gave in. No shit.I decided to drive out to one of the many state parks in my town on Friday after I got off work. I couldn't help moving somewhere surrounded by nature, so there were more than a few options for places to be alone in nature for a few hours. I may push down my instincts on a daily basis, but there are some things I just can't change about myself, and enjoying solitude surrounded by nature was one of those things.The drive there all I could think about was th
Oh shit, oh shit. This is it. We're busted.I hear my panther growl, and shove me down to the back of her mind. She wants to focus, wants full control. I'm okay with it, I wouldn't know what to do in this situation anyways.Just as I'm wondering if they're normal wolves, or if they're like me, one of them begins to tremble. I feel my heart clenching as I realize he's changing. I had been hoping they were normal wolves.Soon, the once medium sized, dirty blonde wolf is a naked man standing up from the forest floor. He's tall, well over six feet. He's definitely a pack warrior; he's thick in the arms and looks like he could take on a tank."Hello." He says. His voice is soft, but firm. Like he's trying not to scare us but seem dominant at the same time. It doesn't work. "You're not just a panther." He says it as a statement, as opposed to a question. They already know I'm not just a normal woodland creature.My panther begins moving to stand in front of her kill. She knows they're proba
Despite my first instinct to wrap my arms around his tall frame and kiss his yummy looking lips, I stay where I am. Perfectly still. Watching him."I haven't seen a panther in these woods in a while." He says, his eyes roaming over my naked body. Unlike the rest of us, he's wearing clothes. I wish he weren't, and not just so I can get a show. I feel vulnerable, exposed. Which, I guess I was."I didn't know they belonged to anyone." I say, taking my time before speaking to make sure my voice was strong and unwavering. I would not show him how much he was affecting me. How I was currently daydreaming of how his large, rough looking hands would feel wrapped around my throat...Pay attention, Cleo.I nod to myself, knowing my panther is right. I'm in a potentially dangerous situation, certainly an unknown one, and it's up to me how this will go. My eyes drifted away from Ike, much to my panther's dismay, and over to Matt. His eyes were flickering between his Alpha and me, sizing the situa
What the fuck am I doing?I ask myself this question for quite literally the hundredth time as I drive down the slightly familiar road that leads me to Ike's territory.I didn't want a mate.Rejection is an option.I was taught it hurts, hurts worse than any pain imaginable.But if I can rip this band aid off and be done with it, then I can heal faster. And since we can barely even say we know each other, there will be no loose ends to tie up. I can just, disappear, if I needed to. I can get back to my life, to how things used to be. You know you weren't happy before. Alone. No... maybe not. But I'm certainly not enjoying my existence any more now.And besides.I'm doing him a favor.Why in the fuck would an Alpha want a panther as a mate? I'm damaged goods.My heart feels like it's going to explode with excitement as I pull into the state park's gravel parking lot. Tiny rocks crunch under my car's tires as I come to a stop, put my car in park, and turn it off. I sit there for a mome